DRIVE A2B December 2020

Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out:
What we know
March 2021 - First vaccine to be available
Health workers and elderly to be given priority
Australia’s immunisation advisory group (ATAGI) puts three
groups at the front of the queue:
• Those who have an increased risk of developing severe disease
• Those at risk of exposure, being infected with and transmitting
the virus (health workers)
• Those working in services critical to society functioning
Vaccination stages
Jabs are expected to be delivered based on 12 age brackets, with over-70s
first, then 65 to 70-year-olds. Eighteen to 23-year-olds come last, with children
unlikely to be vaccinated in 2021.
Will the vaccine be mandatory?
No.
Will I have to pay for it?
No.
Where will I get my jab?
GPs and nurses will initially deliver the two
doses of the vaccine, so medical help is on
hand if needed. Later on it may be possible
for pharmacies to vaccinate younger and
healthier people.
Which vaccine will I get?
Australia has secured almost 115 million
doses of three leading vaccine candidates,
and is part of an international partnership for
others. A task force of medical experts will
decide how they are allowed once approved.
Health minister Greg Hunt has likened the different options to the flu jab in 2020.
“We had a number of flu vaccines that were available. The Australian public didn’t really notice the
difference. Some were more suited to the elderly; others were more suited to the general population.”
DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · December 2020 / January 2021
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